Category: Humor

I have to admit that I have read most everything from Mr. MacKay ever since I started reviewing mid-last year. I started with the madness that is Pure Dark and branched into the other genres from there- he certainly has kept me busy with reading a lot. I have experienced just about everything you can think of so far in Andrew’s world… but nothing has shocked or stunned me more than reading In Their Shoes: The Teacher. I have started something that I have to continue, thanks to Andrew MacKay’s writing skills.

We meet our main character, Jane Altwood… no, Joy Alterwood… or was it Joyce Attwood? Well, we’ll call her Joy Altwild. Ms. Altwild has decided that she wants to become a journalist who will shadow different people’s footsteps to help her write a book; one such person is Rachel Weir, the ‘star’ of the school. Ms. Weir is one of the best teachers at Maxwell Gooder’s Comprehensive School located in Fingeringham, Wiltshire where she is the sole English and Business Studies instructor. Joy follows Rachel through the ruthless battle between the good and bad kids in her class, including escaping to her secret office. We read into the life of Rachel as she slowly begins to break apart throughout the day. Again, we have a chance to learn more about the corruption that is in the forefront of the minds of youth today that builds into a never-ending page tuner filled with multiple paths, personalities and where the number one rule is to control the classroom. Can Joy survive the day alongside Rachel? Will Rachel survive the menacing torture from the youth on a Monday, after a weekend full of freedom from the wild kids? You will have to find out just as I have and read for yourselves. I will tell you, I wish I would have started this sooner and I look forward to continuing the series… yes, In Their Shoes is a series that we get to enjoy.

Now, this is my first comedy read- In Their Shoes is filled with dark laughter with a bit more of a real correlation between fiction and reality. It was actually a relief to break away from the murder, abuse and violence that I have been steady reading… well, let’s just say I didn’t escape it all. Andrew, of course I have to praise you yet again. I know this is the first book in the series but you brought a hell of a cliffhanger that has me begging for more. A simple cliffy that you can easily miss if you weren’t paying attention, as I did. It made me laugh and I felt quite disturbed for the teachers. This book made me feel as if it was actually based on true events as some kids can be quite disturbing to be around. It’s almost as if you wrote a book while thinking of writing a book then wrote it from the eyes of another person… I think I got that right and if not, oh well- I hope you get the point I’m trying to get across. In Their Shoes is legendary, creative and I very much enjoyed it from start to finish. Now, I must stop writing so I may continue on to read the next In Their Shoes, which I do believe is The Actor, which should be interesting.

If this review was enough to whet your appetite, click here to get your copy!

We have come to realize that the world, when it comes to education, has faltered into turmoil… at least in Andrew Mackay’s representation of his own world in Chrome Valley. In very vivid detail, MacKay brings us a perfected chaos in Chrome Junction Academy. We have experienced a school setting from MacKay before in Versus but not as hard as we do in Let’s Kill Mr. Pond– meaning this time, we get a look at the interactions between the students and the faculty. You will be able to connect with multiple characters in this one, feel their pain and torment almost as if it were your own, but this is only the start into the world that Andrew provides for us. MacKay never disappoints, as he made me sit and read Let’s Kill Mr. Pond in one sitting- with no stops, even for something as important (or trivial for some) as sleep.

We start with our main characters first, Andrew providing us an opportunity to step into their shoes- Sam and Jonnie. Jonnie is a ruthless back-talking child that has a bit of problem with listening and it makes you wonder if he may be hiding something deep down. Is his callous behavior a mask that he wears to fool everyone around him, including himself? Sam is a nerd of sorts who is having a rough life between home and school. Sam is probably the closest thing to a best friend to Jonnie. Follow these two on an adventure of rude behavior, a bit of humor and thrills that will get under your skin. Let’s Kill Mr. Pond may begin with humor and brashness but the words an infliction of tone that is used is harsh and sometimes a bit hard to take in as the plan is formed to kill the teacher they hate the most, Mr. Pond. The adventure begins when Sam and Jonnie set their plan in motion as you journey through their home lives and school. It will make you think for years to come… and God forbid if you have any teenagers, if you do, keep them close and never let them go. Be a part of their lives and never give up. Okay, I’m getting ahead of myself but if you want to flip through the pages and find an extraordinary tale, then this book is for you. Let’s Kill Mr. Pond will make you laugh, fill your gut with disgust and will crawl under your skin in hopes of finding a permanent home deep down inside of you. It will also make you think of the ‘what ifs?’ and always keep you thinking about how close you really are to your children.

Andrew MacKay is very talented at his words and layouts- you get a different taste of this world in each one that is a never-ending connection between each book. You will love to taste a piece of this life. Andrew used to be a teacher himself and I think that is why this book is so great. He used his real life experiences and brought them into the world of Chrome Valley. MacKay continues to surprise me… and I’m never disappointed reading his work. In this latest work, he brings us warmth, a psychological breakdown from a teenager’s perspective and the process of many adult lives. Even though this is not horror, Let’s Kill Mr. Pond will stay with you for years to come in the execution of Sam and Jonnie’s plan. Andrew conquers the structure and brings madness inside.

You can click here to pre-order your copy for only $.99 until Monday, January 15th, 2018.